AUTHOR=Shams Amir , Nobari Hadi , Afonso José , Abbasi Hamed , Mainer-Pardos Elena , Pérez-Gómez Jorge , Bayati Mahdi , Bahrami Alireza , Carneiro Lara 

TITLE=Effect of Aerobic-Based Exercise on Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life Among Older People: A Middle East Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.764044

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.764044

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p>The aimed to evaluate the effects of low and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL) among older people. Forty-five male Iranian adults aged 65–80 years were selected according to the eligibility criteria and randomly assigned to a low-intensity group (LIG) (40–50% of maximum heart rate), moderate-intensity group (MIG) (60–70% of maximum heart rate) and control group (CG). The exercise protocols consisted of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise (two sessions per week). Psychological well-being and QoL were assessed through the Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale and the World Health Organization QoL Questionnaire. The statistical analysis for psychological well-being indicated that a significant main group (between-group) (<italic>F</italic> = 11.777, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, η<italic>p</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.359), time (within-group) (<italic>F</italic> = 58.983, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, η<italic>p</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.584) and interaction effect (group × time) (<italic>F</italic> = 20.146, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, η<italic>p</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.490) for PWB total score. Bonferroni <italic>post-hoc</italic> tests revealed that the PWB total score in the MIG group was more significant than both LIG (<italic>p</italic> = 0.003) and CG (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Results for PWB components including self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, autonomy, purposeful life, and environmental mastery revealed no significant differences (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05). While there was a significant difference between the groups for personal growth component. Bonferroni <italic>post-hoc</italic> tests revealed that the personal growth in the MIG group was more significant than both LIG (<italic>p</italic> = 0.028) and CG (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Result for QoL indicated significant differences for the main group (<italic>F</italic> = 13.277, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, η<italic>p</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.387), time (<italic>F</italic> = 25.533, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, η<italic>p</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.378) and interaction effect (<italic>F</italic> = 9.992, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, η<italic>p</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.332) for QoL total scale. Bonferroni <italic>post-hoc</italic> tests revealed that the QoL total scale in the MIG group was more significant than both LIG (<italic>p</italic> = 0.003) and CG (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Results for QoL components including Physical health, Social relationships, Health environment revealed no significant differences (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05), while there was a significant difference between the groups for the Psychological health component. Bonferroni <italic>post-hoc</italic> tests revealed that the Psychological health in the MIG group was more significant than both LIG (<italic>p</italic> = 0.009) and CG (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002). Therefore, aerobic exercise improves PWB and QoL in older adults, moderate-intensity exercise seems to produce higher benefits than low-intensity, demonstrating a positive dose-response relationship.</p>